Plant Nutrition for Orchids Growing in Hydroponics

Orchid Care -
The Basics

Orchids are tougher than most
people think. Although some orchids are
fussy, many adapt comfortably to the light and temperatures found in
most homes. Before buying a new plant, take some time and look around
to observe your environment. See what conditions you can give
your plants. Then, choose plants that
will grow in your conditions.

With over 100,00 types of orchids to
choose from, this can be overwhelming. Don't worry, we'll help you find
what will work for you. First we need to learn the basics of orchid
care.

Orchids are different from
houseplants. Unlike palms, ferns, or
philodendrons, orchids grow on rocks and trees, not in the ground. In
fact, planting an orchid in potting soil is probably a sure way to kill
it. In Nature, the orchid's root system absorbs water and nutrients
from the the
air and occassional rain shower. Their thick roots, leaves and stems
are designed to store water when rain is scarce.

Orchid growers use a
combination of bark chips, spaghnum moss, tree
fern, styrofoam, etc. as potting material to simulate nature. Depending
on where your orchid was grown (Hawaii, Florida, Taiwan) these planting
materials will vary. That's why you can buy two identical orchids and
they will likely be planted completely different potting mixes. For a
beginner this makes correct watering a mystery. Even experienced
growers have trouble getting it right! The clay pebbles in our
Hydroponic System replaces all these materials. And a water gauge tells
you when and how much to water. What could be easier!

Because they grow high in the
trees, orchids require
more light than
houseplants. Leaf color is a good indicator whether your
plant is
getting enough light to bloom. The dark green leaves found on most
houseplants is a sign that your plant is not getting enough light.
Inadequate light is the most common reason orchids don't bloom. Light
green, even yellow tones means the plant is getting the light it needs
to create flowers. Remember, light is the only source of energy your
plant has to develop flowers.

Dark
green leaves on the orchid on the left is a sign this plant is not
getting enough light to bloom. Healthy orchids should have light green
leaves as shown on the right.